anemones

A Burst of Color from the Dutch Fields: Your Anemone Picking Adventure!

Imagine a sunny afternoon in the charming Dutch countryside, a gentle breeze rustling through fields bursting with vibrant hues. You’re not just looking at a painting; you’re in it, armed with a basket and a grin, ready to dive into the delightful world of anemone picking! In the Netherlands, many wonderful “pluktuinen” (picking gardens) invite you to get your hands delightfully dirty, plucking these vibrant beauties straight from the earth.

Whether you’re strolling solo, enjoying a moment of mindful selection, or laughing with friends and family, the joy of finding that perfect bloom is simply unmatched. Kids especially adore the treasure hunt, their eyes wide with wonder as they discover a dazzling red, a delicate white, or a striking purple anemone. It’s not just about the flowers; it’s about the fresh air, the connection to nature, and the simple, unadulterated pleasure of creating something beautiful with your own hands. There’s something incredibly satisfying about a bunch of flowers you’ve personally chosen, each one a little memory of a lovely day out among the Dutch tulips and windmills… well, anemones!

Bringing Them Home: Decorating with Anemones

Once your basket is overflowing with your colorful bounty, the real fun begins at home! Anemones are absolute showstoppers and incredibly versatile for brightening up any space.

Simple Elegance: A single vibrant anemone in a slim vase can make a powerful statement. Or gather a handful of mixed colors for a cheerful, informal bouquet that instantly lifts the mood in your kitchen or living room.
Table Centerpiece: Create a stunning centerpiece for your dining table. Mix them with some simple greenery, or let their bold colors stand alone. They’re perfect for adding a pop of spring or summer charm to any meal.
Bedroom Bliss: Place a small arrangement by your bedside for a soothing start and end to your day.
Pop of Color: Group smaller bunches in various vases around the house to spread the joy and cheer throughout different rooms.
Gift of Joy: Don’t forget, a hand-picked bunch of anemones makes a truly thoughtful and personal gift for a friend or neighbor. Wrap them in some rustic brown paper for that extra farm-fresh touch!

A Note on Usage: Beauty, Not Bites!

Now, as tempting as these colorful blooms might look, it’s super important to remember that anemones are for looking at, not for eating! They are beautiful cut flowers meant purely for decorative purposes. So, while we love farm produce, herbs, and flowers that can spice up our meals, anemones fall firmly into the ‘decoration-only’ category. This means no cooking recipes or herbal teas for these beauties, as they are not safe for consumption.

Anemone-Inspired Sips (For the Eyes Only!)

Given anemones aren’t edible, we won’t be blending them into a cocktail. However, we can certainly whip up a drink inspired by their dazzling colors and joyful spirit! Here’s a mocktail (or a cocktail, just add your favorite spirit like gin or vodka!) that captures the vibrant essence of an anemone, perfect for sipping while admiring your freshly picked bouquet.

The “Dutch Anemone Spritzer”

Inspired By: The bright, varied colors and fresh feel of a field of anemones.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz (60ml) fresh cranberry juice (for those lovely red/pink anemone hues)
- 1 oz (30ml) fresh orange juice (for sunny yellow/orange inspiration)
- 0.5 oz (15ml) fresh lime juice (for a little zest!)
- 0.5 oz (15ml) elderflower syrup or simple syrup (for sweetness)
- Sparkling water or soda water, to top
- Optional Adult Twist: Add 1.5 oz (45ml) of gin or vodka for a spirited version!
- Garnish: A lime wheel, an orange slice, and definitely not a real anemone flower in the drink – perhaps a pretty, edible flower petal (like a pansy or borage) if you have one, or just enjoy the vibrant colors!
Instructions:
1. Fill a tall glass with ice.
2. Add cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, and elderflower (or simple) syrup.
3. (For adult version: Add gin or vodka now).
4. Stir gently to combine.
5. Top with sparkling water or soda water.
6. Garnish with your citrus slices. Sip, admire your anemones, and toast to the simple, beautiful pleasures of life!

So next time you’re in the Netherlands, keep an eye out for those “pluktuin” signs. A day spent among the anemones is a vibrant, heartwarming, and utterly Dutch experience you won’t soon forget!

Pluktuin De Peel

fruit, flowers, herbs, grasses, berries

limburg

Ecologische Pluktuin “De Peel” is a tranquil ecological self-picking garden nestled in Griendtsveen, located between water and forests. The garden was created from a passion for nature, designed to be a sanctuary for numerous insects and animals, featuring wadi’s (natural water retention areas) and consciously planted diverse flora. Visitors to the garden can enjoy picking a wide variety of produce: Flowers: The garden boasts over 15,000 spring bulbs, including various types of tulips, daffodils, and large purple alliums, which can be picked with the bulb. Throughout the season, there are hundreds of dahlia varieties, annuals, perennials, and autumn anemones, contributing to over 5000 different flower species available for creating your own bouquets. Eucalyptus and various grasses are also available, especially for autumn arrangements. Fruits: When there is a sufficient harvest, guests can pick fresh fruits such as Conference pears, apples, plums, and various edible berry bushes directly from the trees and shrubs. Seasonal Items: On request, particularly around the Christmas period, rosehips, fir branches, and eucalyptus are available. Blossom branches may also be offered in spring. Beyond self-picking, the garden provides additional amenities and activities. It offers a terrace for customers, which will expand to a small Mediterranean-style indoor and outdoor terrace with a pond from 2026. The garden hosts Yin and Chair Yoga workshops outdoors, starting in 2025, and also offers creative workshops, unique photography sessions, and guided tours on ecological gardening and biodiversity. Gift cards are available, and bouquets can be pre-ordered for pick-up. A flower cart with plant cuttings is open during garden hours.

Pluktuin Maarsbergen Maarn

flowers

utrecht

Pluktuin Maarsbergen Maarn is a natural, small-scale self-picking flower garden located at Halmweg 1 in Maarn. The garden is open for visitors to pick their own flowers from June through September. Regular opening hours are every Wednesday from 9 AM to 12 PM. Should the Wednesday be rainy, the garden endeavors to open on a Thursday or Friday evening instead. Groups of 10 or more persons can arrange a picking session by appointment. Visitors are encouraged to bring a bucket to keep their freshly picked flowers hydrated.

Plukhoek Mookhoek

fruit, flowers, berries

zuid-holland

Located in Mookhoek, this establishment functions as both a self-picking garden and an outdoor care facility for children and youth aged 4-18, focusing on nature-based development and building self-confidence. The income generated from the picking garden directly supports the care foundation. The self-picking garden is scheduled to reopen on August 9, 2025, and will be open to visitors on Saturdays from 13:00 to 16:00. Guests can choose to pick a beautiful bouquet of flowers from both perennial varieties like roses, viburnum, aquilegia, lupines, anemones, and verbena, as well as annuals such as sunflowers, mallow, zinnia, tanacetum, and even peonies.

Kwekerij de Bascule

flowers, vegetables, herbs, berries, grasses

friesland

Kwekerij de Bascule is a self-picking farm and nursery situated in Hommerts, Friesland, conveniently located near Sneek and Bolsward. The farm is dedicated to sustainable practices, growing all its plants and flowers locally without the use of artificial fertilizers, chemical pesticides, or growth inhibitors, ensuring fresh, seasonal, and natural produce. Visitors are invited to explore the extensive gardens and pick their own selections. The farm provides baskets and shears, allowing guests to gather their preferred items. The self-picking season typically runs from March or April through October, with the garden reopening for self-picking in April 2025.

Plukjebloemen

flowers

utrecht

This garden is a destination for those interested in cultivating and picking their own flowers, emphasizing a colorful and biodiverse approach. It provides guidance and resources, including workshops and special kits, to help individuals design and grow their own vibrant cutting gardens, attracting beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. The flowers available for self-picking or cultivation, suitable for creating beautiful bouquets, include a wide variety of both annuals and perennials. Among these are: